Russian Revolution  Causes, Events, Legacy
February/October revolutions, Lenin, Bolsheviks, USSR, Cold War impact.
Russian Revolution  Causes, Events, Legacy
The Russian Revolution (1917)
What you'll learn
- Russia before 1917: Tsar Nicholas II, autocracy, peasant poverty.
- February Revolution (1917) — Tsar overthrown; Provisional Government formed.
- October Revolution (1917) — Bolsheviks (Lenin) seize power; world's first communist state.
- Causes: war, food shortages, inequality, weak tsar.
- Legacy: USSR formed; Cold War; communist movements worldwide.
Key concepts
Russia before 1917
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Government | Autocracy — Tsar had absolute power; no parliament |
| Economy | Mostly agrarian; rapid industrialisation but workers underpaid |
| Society | Nobility owned land; 80% were peasants; deep inequality |
| Problem | Russia losing World War I (1914–17) — 3.7 million soldiers killed |
Political groups
| Group | Belief |
|---|---|
| Social Revolutionaries | Peasant-focused; land redistribution |
| Mensheviks | Gradual socialism; broad party membership |
| Bolsheviks (Lenin) | Vanguard party; immediate revolution; "Peace, Land, Bread" |
| Liberals | Constitutional monarchy; no revolution |
February Revolution (March 1917)
- Cause: bread riots in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) + soldiers refusing to fire on protesters.
- Tsar Nicholas II abdicated (forced to resign).
- Provisional Government formed — continued the war (key mistake).
- Soviets (workers' and soldiers' councils) challenged government's authority — "dual power."
October Revolution (November 1917)
- Lenin returned from exile; issued April Theses — end war, transfer land, banks to state.
- 10–11 November 1917: Bolsheviks stormed the Winter Palace; arrested Provisional Government.
- Decrees: Decree on Peace (exit WWI), Decree on Land (noble estates seized and given to peasants).
Civil War (1918–1921)
- Red Army (Bolsheviks) vs White Army (monarchists + foreign powers).
- Reds won; Tsar and family executed (1918).
- New Economic Policy (NEP, 1921): Lenin allowed limited capitalism to rebuild economy.
Legacy
- USSR formed 1922 — first communist state.
- Stalin succeeded Lenin (1924); rapid industrialisation, collectivisation, purges.
- Inspired communist revolutions in China (1949), Cuba (1959), Vietnam.
- Led to Cold War — USA vs USSR rivalry (1947–1991).
Quick check
- Name two causes of the February Revolution.
- What were Lenin's April Theses?
- What did the Decree on Land do?
- What was the difference between Mensheviks and Bolsheviks?
- How did the Russian Revolution influence the rest of the 20th century?
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on the Russian Revolution.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Quick check
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